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Last update - 23:42 24/12/2008
Peres in Sderot: In Gaza they're lighting rockets, here we're lighting candles
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Qassam 

President Shimon Peres visited the western Negev town of Sderot on Wednesday to take part in a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony with its residents.

"In Gaza they are lighting rockets and in Sderot we are lighting candles," Peres told the crowd at a local community center. "We are a people of tremendous resilience and moral fortitude."

Peres urged the residents of Sderot to trust that Israel Defense Forces does its utmost to ensure their safety.
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"The IDF has formidable power and amazing abilities," he said. "I trust them to respond [to rocket threat] responsibly and effectively. The unnecessary chatter should stop ? let the IDF act and make the right decisions about the timing and extent of the action."

He also addressed the Palestinians of the neighboring Gaza Strip.

"To the Palestinians I say: we don't want to see you suffer, but Hamas is to blame. Once the rocket fire stops, there will be quiet in Gaza and the crossings [for shipping goods into the Strip] will open," Peres said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the president inaugurated a new production line in the Osem food factory, where up to 80 residents of the unemployment-stricken town are likely to be employed.

"I thank Osem for investing in Sderot," he said. "I thank you for your determination, your courage and your contribution to Israel's industry and our resilience."

Peres also said that Osem CEO Dan Proper promised him that Osem will not fire a single employee in the western Negev, despite the global credit crunch.

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